Pneumatic umbrella



July 10, 1956 T. HALEERSTAM PNEUMATIC UMBRELLA Filed April 14, 1953 INVENTOR T0b2a5z747/b3219a272 BY 7/464.

7 w 9 4 5 Z M 2 0 0 l 3 2 3 3 J mm ww vvmmwmv w W 6 G F ATTORNEY United States Patent PNEUMATIC UMBRELLA Tobias Halberstam, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 14, 1953, Serial No. 348,733

1 Claim. (Cl. 135-20) This invention is an improvement in umbrellas and sunshades or parasols; especially a collapsible device of this kind with parts that can be contracted, when not needed, within a relatively small compass.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an umbrella or the like having a central rod and flexible movable ribs in one piece only and without joints between their ends, connected thereto; for carrying a top or cover to be raised when the ribs are actuated, both the ribs and the rod being adapted to occupy a much smaller space when the umbrella is not in use.

Another object is to provide an umbrella or parasol with flexible ribs, that are tubular and capable of being disposed against the central rod when the article is folded, and spread out by air pressure when the cover is to be distended; the central rod being designed so that it can H be employed as a pump to force air into the ribs when required, the device also having a vent for discharging the air when the top or cover is to be lowered and the central rod being designed to be then easily shortened as part of the collapsing function.

The nature and advantages of the invention are fully described herein and the novel characteristics are defined in the claim. On the drawings a practical embodiment of the improvement is illustrated; but I do not wish to be restricted to merely what the drawings set forth. Numerous changes in structural details and the like minor variations can be adopted without deviation from the general plan in which the invention resides.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section, of an umbrella as it appears when opened;

Figure 2 is a top view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the end of the central rod to which the ribs are joined;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail showing how the rod is maintained in extended condition;

Figure 5 shows the umbrella with all parts collapsed; and

Figure 6 is a section of a detail showing a modification.

The numeral 1 indicates the ribs of the umbrella, and 2 the cover of sheet material over the ribs. The central rod 3 has a handle or knob 4 on one end, and at the other is a head 5 to which the ribs 1 are connected at their inner extremities. The ribs are all flexible and tubular, made of rubber or plastic, and when the interior bores 6 thereof extending from end to end are filled with air under some pressure, the ribs are forced outward and the cove 2 is distended. As many ribs are included as are needed, and the cover when raised, assumes the approximate shape of the usual spherical dome. The ribs 1 then conform to the cover and become curved or arched between their inner and outer ends, as shown on Figure 1.

The head 5 is hollow, with radiating hollow bosses 7 through the bores of which the interior of the ribs 1 communicate with the chamber 8 in the head 5. The

2,753,878 Patented July 10, 1956 ICC rod 3 comprises a tubular section 9 which is detachably joined to the head by screwing the end into an opening at the inner end of the head and sections 10 and 11; all three sections having telescopic connection. The section 9 fits inside the section 10, and the section 10 fits inside the section 11, which carries the handle or knob 4. When the section 9 is retracted into the section 10 and the latter is pushed into the section 11, the rod is shortened accordingly. The entire rod can be disconnected from the head 5 by unscrewing the section 9.

The three sections of the rod 3 have a snug fit, and the ends of the sections 10 and 11 that receive the ends of sections 9 and 10 respectively may be provided with well known gaskets or packing rings to make the fit airtight. The section 10 has an inlet port 12 adjacent the end inside the section 11. Obviously when the section 11 is pushed to cover the port 12, the air trapped inside the rod 3 can be forced into the ribs 1, and thus the section 11 can be utilized as a hand pump to spread the ribs and distend the cover 2. The head 5 has a check valve 13 adjacent the attached end of the section 9, and all air passing this valve into the head remains in the tubular ribs 1 until released.

The outer end of the head 5 is open, but is covered by a cap 14. This cap is screwed on the outer end of the head which is reduced in thickness to form a boss 15, that has threads which the cap engages. In the middle of the cap is an exhaust port on which an outlet valve 16 seats and this valve is rounded on its outer face and projects slightly to the outside of the cap 14, so that it can be forced open with a finger. Air in the head 5 and ribs 1 can then escape, and the ribs and cover may be collapsed.

The valve 16 is shown with a hollow stem 17 receiving the stem 18 of the valve 13. A spring 19 encircles the stem of the valve 13 between this valve and the stem 17 of the valve 16 and holds both valves in closed position. Hence, to raise the umbrella, the owner operates the section 11 as a pump to force air into the ribs 1 to spread the ribs 1 and cover 2. To lower it the user presses the valve 16 to open it and liberate the air which the ribs 1 and head 5 contain. Then the cover and ribs can be lowered and the sections of the rod telescoped together. Preferably the outer ends of the ribs 1 are all joined to a flexible ring 20 of rubber, plastic, or other suitable material. The ring is also hollow and its interior communicates freely with the interior of the ribs 1. Air, under pressure, enters the ring when the pump is employed and gives the circular shape indicated in Figure 2.

Instead of the opening 12 in the section 10, and inlet valve 21 can be mounted to control an air admission port 22 having a seat for this valve in the knob 4, this valve being held closed by a spring 23. The spring is backed by a cross pin 24, in the knob 4.

The ribs 1, when the umbrella is collapsed, may be bent double so as to be no longer than the shortened rod 3. The cover 2 can be secured to the head between washers 25, surrounding the boss 15 and secured by the cap 14, and to the ribs 1 and ring 20, in any suitable manner as by stitches, at such points as may be desired. When the umbrella is fully collapsed it appears as in Figure 5 and can be stowed in a small pouch handbag or pocket of ones clothing. The ends of the sections 10 and 11 into which the sections 9 and 10 are inserted carry sleeves 27, with overturned edges 28 enveloping the ends of the sections into which they are put, and the sleeves are made fast to the sections 10 and 11 by soldering, welding, or otherwise. They make a snug fit for the sections, and the inner ends of the sections have flanges 29 that also fit snugly. Hence, when the central U rod 3 has its full length, the members 9, 10 and 11 are held rigid with one another.

On the rims 28 of the sleeves 27 in the sections 10 and 11 are spring catches 3t) with outward bent free ends. See Figure 1. The sections 9 and 10 have grooves 31 in position to be engaged by the ends of the springs 30 when the rod 3 is expanded and the umbrella is raised. The springs prevent collapsing of the rod, but will yield when the sections are to be pushed into each other. The knob 4 has a threaded boss 32 in the bore 22 of which are the valve 21 and springs 23, and this boss is attached by screwing into the section 11. The spring 30 and groove 31 are shown enlarged in Figure 4.

When the umbrella is to be put out of use, the air is vented and discharged by the valve 16 as stated above. The ribs 1 and ring 20 then become limp and the ring and cover can be turned up and outward to double the cover on itself and form a main transverse fold between the inner and outer halves of the ribs 1, which are also bent and folded as indicated on Figure 5. The bosses or nipples 7 can make any proper angle with the head 5, outward or downward, to facilitate bending of the ribs 1 when the framework and cover are to be collapsed. The parts of the cover between the ribs are also folded along lines crossing the main fold, and the ring 20 can be rotated a little around the rod as axis when the ribs are bent to avoid sharp angles in the ribs 1, and the ring can then be bent on itself at several points to shorten it and dispose it closer to the rod 3, as Figure indicates.

In use, the umbrella can be maintained in operative condition as long as it is needed, and if the ribs become slack, a few strokes of the section 11 will sufiice to restore their stiffness. The disclosure is explanatory only and changes in sizes and shape and location of parts may of course be made. If desired, the vent valve 16 may be arranged in the rod 3, with the check valve nearby, but between this valve and the pump section 11..

Obviously the central rod 3 does not have to be pulled to its full length before pumping. The section 11 can be operated to distend the ribs 1, frame 20 and cover 2 while the section 9 is partly Within the section and when the cover and ribs are spread to the required extent,

4 the rod can be extended as the last step in the operation.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

An umbrella having a cover of sheet material, a framework comprising hollow flexible ribs and a hollow flexible ring joining the outer ends of said ribs to which the cover is attached, a hollow circular head to which the ribs are united in tangential positions with respect to said head to facilitate folding the ribs, ring and cover when collapsed, a rod comprising hollow telescopic sections, one of which at one end of said rod is united to said head, the rod having an air inlet adjacent the outer extremity of the section at the opposite end, the last-named section having an inlet valve and being operable as a pump to force air into the head and ribs and ring to inflate and spread the ring, ribs and cover, a check valve in the lower part of said head adjacent the first-named end of the rod, said head also having an outlet port on the outer side of the cover opposite said check valve, a cap attached to the head on said outer side over said port, said cap having an opening in line with said port, and an inward opening vent valve carried by said cap and controlling said opening and port, said vent valve being exposed at said opening to enable it to be forced inward to uncover said opening one of said valves having a hollow stem and the other a stem telescoping into said hollow stem, and a spring between and engaging both valves tending to force the two valves to closed position, the ribs, due to the tangential connection thereof with the head, being capable of being doubled upon them: selves towards the head to form loops without creases and to fold the cover towards the head and the ring around the outside of the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,397,789 Stonestreet Nov. 22, 1921 1,411,560 Beaty Apr. 4, 1922 2,049,380 Huber July 28, 1936 2,582,546 Klein Jan. 15, 1952 2,625,946 Kaston Jan. 20, 1953 

